Monday, May 11, 1998
Grass isn’t always greener for blue-collar lawn mowers
FILM: Sam Rockwell gets down, dirty to prepare
for his role in new drama
By Teron Hide
Daily Bruin Contributor
In the fictional suburban area of Camelot Gardens, luxurious
mansions with lush green gardens are the social norm. Attending to
the gardening needs of these wealthy landholders are the caretakers
of grass, the lawn mowers.
And for his role as a lawn mower in John Duigan’s latest drama,
"Lawn Dogs," actor Sam Rockwell decided to get his hands dirty.
Shooting in the backwoods of Kentucky for seven weeks, the
experienced actor gathered a select team to prepare him for his
portrayal of Trent.
"I had a dialogue coach, so I’m doing the dialect. And once I
got there, I had this teamster, Mike Fackler, tape my life through
a tape recorder (with) him and his son," Rockwell says. "And I did
lawn mowing with this guy, Maurice, who taught me how to do the
lawn mower for two weeks."
The film revolves around Trent, a 21-year-old working class boy,
who develops an unlikely friendship with a wealthy 10-year-old girl
named Devon. Using the South as the backdrop, the duo crosses
several barriers to form a friendship in a community filled with
suspicion. In addition, the movie remarks upon the increasing
distance between the social classes of America.
Beyond the surrounding homes and lawns, Rockwell found other
similarities between the story’s setting and where it was actually
shot. The local residents also shared some unfavorable sentiments
toward their gardeners.
"Oh, yeah, identical. Very intensely decadent. But there were
different nationalities in the neighborhoods," Rockwell says. "I
got to know the people from the other side of the track. I was told
that there is some kind of negative behavior from the lawn mowing
guys."
Rockwell started in film at the age of 18. After earning a spot
in a movie while still in high school, he went to New York for
acting lessons and gradually attained larger roles. Since then,
Rockwell has had a busy schedule. His most recent film performance
was a starring role opposite John Turturro in "Box of Moonlight."
He has guest-starred on such TV shows as "NYPD Blue" and "Law and
Order." And his stage work includes a touring production of
"Orphans" in New York.
"I prefer film over TV. I don’t prefer film over theater. With
TV there’s less time to shoot, and everything is rushed. You have
too many hands and cooks," Rockwell says. "There’s the network and
the producer and the writers. Too many people getting involved and
stirring the mix. It doesn’t make for good art."
Rockwell has two more movies due out later this year. The first
is "Safemen," which is about two untalented folk singers who get
mistaken for safe crackers. And the second is Shakespeare’s "A
Midsummer’s Night Dream," which just wrapped up in Italy. The film
also stars Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfieffer and Stanley Tucci.
While playing a multitude of roles, Rockwell feels that his
portrayal of Trent will touch any individual. He feels that the
fact that Trent is a common, blue-collar man allows a simple
connection that every audience member can relate to.
"I think that anybody who’s ever had an abusive manager or boss
at work or been treated unjustly can relate with that," Rockwell
says. "I think that is the crux of the character, really."
FILM: "Lawn Dogs" opens Friday.
Strand Releasing
Sam Rockwell plays a gardener in John Duigan’s "Lawn Dogs."
Strand Releasing
Mischa Barton and Sam Rockwell star in "Lawn Dogs."